by Renato Reyes Jr., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) President
On February 25, the 40th anniversary of the EDSA uprising, we will march to EDSA Ortigas to acclaim the validity and necessity of “people power” and to hold the Marcoses accountable for their past and present crimes.
We cannot commemorate EDSA without acknowledging the fascism, puppetry and corruption of the Marcos dictatorship, and the ill-gotten wealth they have yet to return to the Filipino people. Nasaan ang utang ng mga Marcos na P203 billion na estate tax? Nasaan ang ninakaw na yaman na patuloy nilang pinakikinabangan?
We cannot commemorate EDSA without pointing out the corruption of the current Marcos regime – like father, like son, parehong kawatan. The current Marcos regime is accused of kickbacks reaching up to P10 billion based on the evidence seen by Makabayan representatives in Congress. We cannot mute the demands that hold Marcos Jr accountable for presiding over a system where he sits on top of the stinking garbage heap of corruption.
On February 25, we march to EDSA and will reject the so-called “EDSA no-rally zone” which is antithetical to the very spirit of EDSA. We will celebrate people power, not police power, not state power, not the fascist measures of an isolated regime based on a legal remnant of the Marcos dictatorship. We will march with demands for accountability and genuine change.
We cannot commemorate EDSA by limiting freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly as if we are still in the dark years of the dictatorship. Those trying to curtail peaceful assembly have not learned any of the lessons of EDSA. Those trying to mute criticism of the regime and limit the alternatives to the rotten system likewise have not learned the lessons of history and the principle that sovereignty resides with the people.
On February 25, we march to EDSA, sick of the current political maneuverings of those in power, desperately trying to distract us with endless permutations of possible alliances for the upcoming elections, as if our entire fight against corruption is to serve electoral considerations and ambitions. Kung may natutunan man tayo noong 1986 at 2001 at sa mga regular na eleksyon, hindi sapat ang simpleng pagpapalit lang ng nakaupo sa tukotok upang malutas ang malubhang krisis ng bansa. Kailangang baguhin ang sistema. Hindi lang sino ang ipapalit kundi ANO ang ipapalit.
Our commemoration of EDSA teaches us that real power lies with the people, not with politicians – especially those engaged in horse-trading and political accommodation based on narrow interests. They do not represent our hopes for a better future, certainly not the Marcos or Duterte dynasties. We cannot shout “never again” to the Marcoses and in the same breath ask “why not?”
On February 25, we march to EDSA to fight for its unfinished work and unfulfilled promise of achieving genuine freedom and democracy for our people. Take courage and be steadfast for we will not be alone in the struggle. Bahain ng protesta ang kahabaan ng EDSA.#
